By Ademola Tijani
Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese footballer, has once again made history. Earlier this month, he became the first male footballer to score 900 career goals, a monumental achievement in his illustrious playing career.
This week, however, the 39-year-old Al-Nassr forward reached a unique milestone off the field by becoming the first person to amass a combined 1 billion followers across all major social media platforms.
Ronaldo shared the achievement through a new YouTube channel he launched last month, where he streamed a live follower count leading up to his billionth follower. The channel quickly gained popularity, amassing 15 million subscribers on its first day and surpassing 60 million within weeks.
Celebrating the occasion, Ronaldo said, “We’ve made history — 1 BILLION followers! This number represents more than just followers; it’s a reflection of our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond. From the streets of Madeira to the world’s biggest stages, I’ve always played for my family and for you. Now, 1 billion of us stand together.”
He continued, “You’ve been with me through every high and low. This journey is ours, and together, we’ve shown there are no limits to what we can achieve. Thank you for believing in me and for your unwavering support. The best is yet to come, and we’ll continue making history together.”
The majority of Ronaldo’s social media following is on Instagram, where he commands an astounding 639 million followers—roughly 8% of the global population. His presence on other platforms is equally impressive, with 170.5 million followers on Facebook, 113 million on X (formerly Twitter), and nearly 10 million across Chinese platforms Weibo and Kuaishou.
In comparison, Ronaldo’s closest competitor in football, Lionel Messi, is the only other player with over 500 million followers. Beyond football, American celebrities like Selena Gomez (424 million), Kylie Jenner (397 million), and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (395 million) trail Ronaldo in follower count. Remarkably, Ronaldo’s Instagram audience surpasses the combined following of all 2024 NBA All-Star players.
This milestone comes as Ronaldo continues to expand his global influence both on and off the pitch. Now in his third season with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, following a $215 million contract signed in 2023, Ronaldo’s earnings continue to soar. Over the past year, his endorsements alone brought in $60 million, placing him fourth among athletes for off-field income.
In total, Ronaldo’s 2023 earnings reached $275 million, second only to golfer Jon Rahm. His career earnings, adjusted for inflation, have climbed to $1.92 billion as of March this year, positioning him to cross the $2 billion mark by the end of the year. When he does, he will join an elite club of athletes who have surpassed that threshold, a group currently occupied by Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods.
